The study team provided packets with information sheets and surveys to the protocol coordinator to distribute to the treatment unit workforce during staff meetings or other team/group meetings. Respondents mailed the completed survey directly to the study’s data management center or returned sealed envelopes to the protocol coordinator for batch return. There was also a secure web-site that permitted on-line survey completion (17% of the returned surveys). Follow-up letters were mailed to all potential respondents approximately four weeks after the initial distribution.

One survey found that 71% of professionals employed in the addictions workforce held a bachelor’s degree or higher. Professionals who work in substance abuse counseling also work to educate people about the effects and risks of drug and alcohol misuse. Psychoeducation is often conducted in a group therapy setting and helps participants learn more about the effects that substances have, the related behaviors that often contribute to drug use, and the potential consequences. You can call and ask someone who works at a local substance abuse program, peers in support groups, your primary care doctor, or a local therapist or counselor. You can also call a behavioral health crisis or information line for more help and guidance. These hotlines are free to use and are set up specifically to help you find the right level of care.

Stony Brook University & Alfred State College – Scholarship Flyer

Around 48% of people working in the addictions field hold a master’s or doctorate. CBT is one of the most popular therapies in addiction medicine, and counselors use it to treat a variety of addictions. So, they usually save the “getting to know all of the nuances of your situation” part for a little later in treatment. In the beginning, they focus on helping you gain the knowledge and skills you need to prevent relapse.

• Further, translational research confirms the importance of the treatment provider workforce, organizational factors, and environmental issues in this process of implementation of new practices.
• A substance abuse bachelor’s degree prepares graduates for rewarding careers helping those who are struggling with drug and alcohol addictions.
• A Workforce Survey assessed staff characteristics, attitudes, and beliefs about specific drug abuse treatments.
• Successful counseling outcome is dependent on counselor therapeutic skills such as focusing conversations on life problems, addressing presenting problems directly, and providing structure for counselor-client intervention.
• With therapy, a person who has become dependent on drugs or alcohol is often more likely to overcome an addiction, and several types of therapy are helpful in this process.
• For many people affected by addiction, addiction counselors are the vital link to recovery.

Learn more about the certificate for substance abuse counseling at MWCC by requesting additional information or applying online today. It only takes a few minutes to fill out our application, and there is no fee and no essay requirement. Drug abuse counselor education prepares you to work with those struggling with addiction. You can see people change their lives and overcome obstacles that seemed insurmountable.

What are the job requirements and responsibilities for addiction counselors?

The small class sizes are equivalent to a private university, but our price tag isn’t. You will spend much less on our programs than you would at a four-year college. “The CASAC program has given me the knowledge and tools to achieve my career goals.” And with no set class times, 24/7 access to the online classroom, and helpful learning resources along the way, you’ll have everything you need to reach your goals. Because tolerance to a drug decreases after a period of abstinence, it is at this time that people have an increased risk of overdose. If a person who has not used the drug in some time resumes taking the same amount they did previously, the body may no longer be able to handle the dose, and death may result.

Additional knowledge and skill on the part of the counselor relates to being able to assess the extent and impact of a client’s substance abuse problem and the client’s need to change. Familiarity with and ability to utilize standardized assessment instruments specific to substance abuse will help the counselor in this assessment process. Familial and social environment assessment also is required to identify the extent of and to utilize the client’s support systems. The counselor’s ability to identify the needs of the client and the quality of counseling and related treatment intervention strategies obviously linked to his/her assessment and diagnostic skills.

See the easy-read overview for Substance Abuse & Behavioral Disorder Counselors at My Next Move for Veterans

Some states license substance abuse counselors as well, while some states only certify them. In response to professional advocacy and increasing demand for substance abuse treatment, a growing number of states are licensing substance abuse counselors for independent practice. It’s important to note that the extent of these differences depends on what method a therapist uses. Cognitive behavioral therapy is used in both mental health and substance use disorder treatment, and in CBT, you don’t have to delve into your past at all. Instead, you can just focus on the present-moment connection between certain thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and work on changing the thinking that leads to negative experiences.

Substance abuse counselor degree programs train students to observe and interview patients, carry out treatment plans, and handle crisis situations. Many programs include opportunities to participate in fieldwork to provide hands-on experiences. Such practical experience can go a long way toward fulfilling your https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/substance-abuse-counseling/ career aspirations to become an addiction counselor. Since the knowledge you’ll learn in this substance abuse counselor degree program is valuable to all kinds of employers, it’s easy to see how your career could lead you to employment in an organization that doesn’t necessarily focus on substance abuse.

Substance Abuse Counseling Certification (CASAC)

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the occupation is projected to grow 25% from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. There is an epidemic of substance abuse addiction and overdose deaths in the United States. Substance abuse counseling is a high-demand profession that can make a real difference in your community. Counselors are needed to help people who struggle with drug and alcohol addictions learn to modify their behavior to lead them on the road to eventual recovery. Substance abuse counselors typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in substance abuse counseling or a related field.

Various studies have shown that counselors with more education (i.e., physicians, psychiatrists) and experience support the role of medication in treating addiction (13). Further, providers that support traditional twelve-step approaches, have longer tenure in the field, and identify as being in recovery, may be more resistant to implementation of new interventions (24). In addition, counselor attitudes toward drug treatment also differ by treatment setting. Substance abuse counselors, also known as addiction counselors, are licensed professionals trained in psychology, human behavior, chemical dependency and therapeutic methods. These therapists help people with behavioral disorders (primarily substance use) by talking through the complexities and causes of their addiction. Substance abuse counselors will work one-on-one with clients to develop goals and strategies for pursuing sobriety — all in a compassionate and confidential environment.

Provider Characteristics

Substance abuse counseling developed within the substance abuse treatment field as a practical and effective method to help clients recover from substance use disorders. It incorporates a mix of clinical techniques, 12-step philosophy, and practical problem-solving methods. The Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies offers invaluable coursework and training that explores the study and treatment of substance use disorders, as well as mental health and co-occurring disorders. Work closely with full-time faculty, all of whom hold doctoral degrees and bring first-hand knowledge from years of clinical experience, research and teaching.